Master of Social Work

Admission Requirements*

Regular Study (60 Graduate credit hours)

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited program.

A minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 is preferred; or a GPA of at least 3.0 for the last 60 credit hours of the baccalaureate program. Note: lower GPA’s will be considered for probationary admission.

A BSW degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program.

A minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 is preferred; or a GPA of at least 3.0 for the last 60 credit hours of the baccalaureate program. Note lower GPA’s will be considered for probationary admission.

The GRE is NOT required.

Three professional or academic references who can assess your potential for graduate study in social work. One reference must be from your Practicum Instructor, Field Liaison, or the Director of Field Education. Download the reference form.

Attach your resume.

Submit your 3 written narratives.

*Once accepted all MSW students will be required to submit to a background check.

Application Narratives

Each applicant completes all 3 narratives.

Ethical Critique (2-3 pages utilizing APA format): The NASW Code of Ethics may be found at www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/default.asp. Describe an ethical dilemma that you have encountered in your personal or professional life. Using appropriate confidentiality define the parties involved, the ethical dilemma, the values that informed your decisions and how the dilemma was addressed and/ or resolved. Discuss how the experience and outcome affected you, in particular any lessons you learned.

Personal Statement (2-3 pages utilizing APA format): What are the significant experiences that influenced your decision to enter social work? What are your short-term (3-5 years) and long term goals (10+ years), and how does a Master’s in Social Work prepare you to meet those goals? How will you meet the demands of graduate academic responsibilities (20+ hours per week in class and task completion for coursework and 15-24 practicum hours per week). Do you anticipate any barriers to meeting these expectations and how do you plan to address these barriers?

Professional Statement (2-3 pages utilizing APA format): What is your concept of social work as a profession? Discuss a current societal concern, including contributing/ causal factors and why this concern warrants public attention and resources from the social work community. What intervention do you believe will successfully address this situation (direct practice/ policy change, etc.)? What positive or negative results may occur following this intervention? Discuss your rationale and what role you might be involved in if such an intervention were to be employed.